Improvement in perforating-stamps



B. D. STEVENS. Perforatin'g Stamp Nd. 215,303. Paten ted May43, 18 79..

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN D. STEVENS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN PERFORATlNG-STAMPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 215,303, dated May 13, 1879; application filed March 4, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJ. D. STEvENs, of Boston, in the county of Suflolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Stamp-Canceling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists in a device for cancelin g postage and other stamps by removing therefrom a portion of said stamp in order to deface the same. It comprises one or more tools or burr-drills, arranged to be revolved by the descent of the handle of the cancelingmachine or otherwise, inside a diaphragm, which acts as a rest and support for the tool on the stamp, and serves as a gage in preventing the burr-drills cutting through more than one thickness of paper.

The mode of operation will be more particularly set forth by aid of the accompanying drawings, fcrmin g a part of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the canceling-machine. Fig. 2 is a plan of the rest and devices for removing portions of the stamp in canceling the same. Fig. 3 is a plan of the interior of the cap. Fig. 4 shows the relation of the pinion to the internal driving-gear, as does also Fig. 5. Fig. 6 is a portion of the box partially covering the pinions and inclosed by the cap. Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the pinion and the burr-drill. Fig. 8 is a vertical section thereof. Fig. 9 is an enlarged view or plan of the burr, and Fig. 10 is a cross-section of the foot-piece.

The burr-drills or excavating-tools a are each secured, preferably, by screwing into the ends of vertical shafts b, carrying the gear wheels or pinions c. The upper portions of the shafts b have bearings in the box d. The

lower portions of the shafts are provided withbearings in the foot-piece e, which is somewhat recessed on its under surface to leave the annular projection f surrounding the burrdrills.

The box 01 is provided with the pivot g, which fits into the hole It in the cap m, that covers said box. This cap m is provided with the internal driving-gear n, which engages the This rod 10 is surrounded by the sleeve g, which has a spiral slot, n, in which the projection s on said rod is guided, causing the rod to re- .volve or partially revolve, when the handle it volve or partially revolve, thereby actuating the internal driving-gear in the cap, which actuates the pinions operating the burr-drills. Of course any other desirable means of operating said rod to cause said burr-d rills to revolve can be practiced without interfering with the spirit of my invention.

The foot-piece and box are fastened to the cap by means of the screw-pin c, which plays in the recess or groove w around the box.

It is intended in the operation of this device that the burr-drills shall make about one complete revolution while performing their work;

I do not limit myself to the number of drills employed, as I may use one or I may use three or any number desirable.

It will be seen that the drills project slightly beyond the bottom of the foot, and that they are provided with recesses 00 across the bottoms,in order to facilitate their being screwed into the ends of the operating-shafts. On some accounts, in some instances, it may be desirable to line the bottom of the foot-piece with rubber, in order to secure a better friction between the article stamped and the foot-piece, as it is necessary that the article should be held firmly by the pressure of the foot-piece upon the same while the handle is descending,

to prevent the movement of the article stamped.

Of course this device may be used in conjunction with any of the well-known contrivances for canceling postage-stamps by effacing the same with ink, or with appliances for indicating the time or date when the stamp was canceled.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters; Patent of the United States- 1. In a stamp-canceling machine, the combination of a stationary foot, Withtwo or more revolving burr-drills for removing" portions of the stamp to be canceled, fastened to shafts carrying pinions, with said pinions and an internal drivinggear arranged to operate said pinions, and means for causing said internal gear to revolve, substantially as described.

2. The combination of two or more burrdrills for removing aportion or portions of the stamp to be canceled, the pinlons described, the internal gear for operating said pinions, a" spiral'slotted sleeve inclosed Within the handle, projection s, and spring u, all arranged to operate substantially as described.

BENJN. D. STEVENS.

Witnesses:

H. G. MINoT,

F.F.- RAYMOND, 2d.- 

